Session 4: Agenda Setting

Sep 16

Shipley Coaching · Level 1 Certification · Session 4

Agenda Setting & Scales

Every session needs an agreement: what the client wants and how you'll both know it happened. The Elevator Questioning Strategy finds the outcome and its values; a 1–10 scale supplies the evidence.

OCORE's Outcome stage now holds

Stated in the positiveIn the client's controlSMARRTS AgendaEvidence (scaling)added this session

The Elevator Questioning Strategy (EQS)

Explain coaching by letting someone experience it, then reuse the same question pattern to set agendas.

Part I · Answering "What do you do?"

The Reverse: thank them; it's customized, often misunderstood, and you won't bore them
Ask permission: "Can I ask a question to give you an experience of what I do?"
Have you ever known what you wanted and how to get it, but struggled to stay committed?
"That's what I do!" Clarify goals, build actionable plans, stay committed through the hard part

Answer "What is coaching?"Set agendasGet new clientsUses the 4 Ws

Part II · Same pattern, three uses

Appointment

Session agenda

Simplified agenda

1 · Outcome

What small part of your life is that true for today?

To make today amazing, what would you focus on?

By the end of the session, what do you want?

2 · Values

"If you had that, what would it give you?" Repeat until you have Outcome + Value 1 + Value 2

3 · Close

Worth a 45-minute complimentary session? Set a specific time

Would that be a good use of our time today?

Would that be the best use of our time? Then scale it

Agenda downhill: go from value to action. After the appointment close, excuse yourself and say nothing more.

Evidence Procedure · Scaling

NowTarget

By the end of the session, what do you want? Agenda
On a scale of 1 to 10 <backtrack>, where are you now? Evidence
By the end of the session, where would you like to be?
If it isn't a feeling: how would you know you were at that number?
If we moved you from a __ to a __, would that be the best use of our time?

The key question
"How would you know you are at a ___?"

ICF Core Competency #3 · Establishes and Maintains Agreements

Definition: partners with client and stakeholders on clear agreements, for the whole engagement and for each session.

The engagement

3.01Coaching philosophy; what coaching is and isn't
3.02What is and isn't offered; responsibilities
3.03Logistics, fees, schedule, confidentiality
3.04Overall coaching plan and goals
3.05Client-coach compatibility
3.11Closes the relationship respectfully 2019: ends
3.12Revisits the agreement as needed new

Each session

3.06What the client wants from this session
3.07What they need to address to get there
3.08Measures of success
3.09Manages time and focus
3.10Follows the client's desired outcome unless they redirect

Leadership Engagement Model · Quadrants Named

Meaningfulpurpose, impact, legacy, the "why"

Mental · Autonomychoice, agency, creative latitude

Emotional · Relationaltrust, respect, connection

Physical · Masterychallenge, practice, feedback

4 Ws: Want, Way, Will, Win; the EQS uses them.

Exam Watch · Know These Cold

Outcome Checklist

Positive, In control, SMARRTS, Agenda, Evidence

EQS Values Rule

Keep asking until Outcome + 2 values

ICF #3 Count

12 items; 3.12 added in 2025

EQS = Competency 3.01

Defines coaching by experience, not a pitch

Key Insight

An agenda isn't agreed until it has a value behind it and a number on it. Outcome, then two values, then a scale.

Sources: Shipley Coaching Certification Training, Level 1, Session 4 slides "Agenda Setting" (Cohort 17), Elevator Questioning Strategy word track, and Student Manual (v. 2026-06-01). ICF Core Competencies, 2019 and 2025 (released Sept. 2025), coachingfederation.org.

EQS, CORE, 4 Ws, and the Leadership Engagement Model are Shipley Coaching tools. Word tracks shortened; the appointment close varies (slides: 45-minute complimentary session; word track: follow-up meeting within a week). Scale positions are an example. Competency wording paraphrased.

Milo Curtis